Calochilus herbaceus
Common name
copper beard orchid
Synonyms
New Zealand plants have been called C. campestris R.Br. another Australian species to which C. herbaceus is allied.
Family
Orchidaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Orchids
Chromosome number
2n = 22
Current conservation status
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2017 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2012 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley.
2012 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: EF, SO, Sp
Previous conservation statuses
2009 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: SO, EF, Sp
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand, North Island. Formerly recorded from the Aranga Swamp near Maunganui Bluff. It is now known from a few scattered populations ranging from Te Paki south to Albany. Also present in Australia
Habitat
A coastal and lowland species of open ground within gum land scrub, peat bogs, ephemeral wetlands and clay pans.
Features
Stout orchid 300-700 mm tall. Stem erect, glaucous green to green, fleshy, rather stout. Leaf fleshy, linear-lanceolate, glaucous-green to dark green, channelled, sheathing at base. Cauline bracts similar but much shorter. Inflorescence a raceme of (1-)2(-5) flowers. Floral bracts narrow, acute, overtopping ovary. Perianth green, glaucous-green to bright green except for the violet lamina and red cilia of labellum. Dorsal sepal 10-15 mm long, broad-elliptic, acute, somewhat folded about column; lateral sepals similar though smaller. Petals shorter, obliquely deltoid, apex subacute, directed toward dorsal sepal, green finely striped with red. Labellum violet, with a green apex, not much larger than sepals and petals; ligulate apex short, sinuous; disc broad with shorter, fewer processes; base bearing two, longitudinal metallic blue (rarely green) plate-like calli. Column wings with one distinct, dark gland or callus near base.
Similar taxa
Immediately distinguished from C. robertsonii Benth., and C. paludosus R.Br., by the greenish-yellow flowers with red striped petals, a distinctive violet blue labellum, bearing red whisker like cilia.
Flowering
October – December
Flower colours
Green, Violet/Purple
Fruiting
October – February
Propagation technique
Difficult. Should not be removed from the wild.
Threats
Habitat loss and plant collectors are the main threats to this attractive bearded orchid
Etymology
calochilus: From Greek kalos (beautiful) and cheilos (lip), referring to the attractive labellum
Where To Buy
Not commercially available
Cultural Use/Importance
New Zealand plants and some Australian populations differ slightly from C. herbaceus sens. str. and it is thought that they probably warrant separate taxonomic recognition (D.L. Jones pers. comm.).
Attribution
Description adapted from Moore and Edgar (1970)
References and further reading
Moore, L.B.; Edgar, E. 1970: Flora of New Zealand. Vol. II. Government Printer, Wellington.